Caracas, Venezuela – September 30, 2025

State of External Commotion Declared as Tensions Escalate

Maduro Prepares to Invoke ‘State of External Commotion’ Granting Special Powers Amid Heightened US Military Presence

In a dramatic escalation of the long-standing hostility between Caracas and Washington, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is set to declare a State of Emergency, officially termed a “State of External Commotion,” citing “unprecedented and continued military aggression” from the United States. 

The move comes as the US has significantly increased its military presence and conducted lethal strikes in the Caribbean, operations Washington claims are solely aimed at combating drug trafficking networks.

Vice President Delcy Rodríguez confirmed on Monday that President Maduro has a decree prepared, which, if signed, would immediately grant him sweeping special powers in matters of defense and national security, enabling the mobilization of armed forces, the sealing of borders, and the military control of key infrastructure. 

This exciting development places Venezuela at its highest state of alert, setting the stage for a potential international crisis in the region.

Headline Points of the Crisis

 * Impending State of Emergency: 

President Maduro is poised to sign a decree to declare a “State of External Commotion,” granting the executive special powers under Article 338 of the Venezuelan Constitution.

 * US Military Actions: 

The declaration is a direct response to the recent deployment of US warships, including a nuclear submarine, off the Venezuelan coast, and multiple lethal US-led “kinetic strikes” on suspected drug boats in the Caribbean, which Caracas condemns as “extrajudicial executions.”

 * Escalating Rhetoric: 

The rhetoric was intensified by US President Donald Trump’s public threat to “blow out of existence” Venezuelan drug trafficking networks, which he accuses Maduro of leading.

 * Special Powers Activated: 

The state of emergency, once declared, would allow Maduro to temporarily suspend constitutional rights and place the country’s military in charge of critical operations.

 * Fears of Intervention: 

Venezuelan officials maintain that the US anti-drug operations are a pretext for a broader military intervention aimed at regime change and seizing control of Venezuela’s vast reserves of oil, gas, and gold.

The Aggression Justification

For weeks, the atmosphere around Venezuela has grown increasingly volatile. 

The Trump administration deployed a naval flotilla, including eight warships, to the southern Caribbean, ostensibly to intensify its counter-narcotics mission. This deployment has been coupled with multiple strikes on sea vessels allegedly carrying drugs from Venezuela, resulting in over a dozen fatalities.

Venezuelan officials, however, argue that these actions go far beyond drug interdiction. Foreign Minister Yván Gil Pinto recently told the United Nations General Assembly that an “illegal and completely immoral military threat” was hanging over the country, and the US aims to “rob Venezuela’s immeasurable oil and gas wealth.”

The crisis reached a peak following reports that US military officials are now drafting options for air strikes to target drug traffickers inside Venezuelan territory, a potential move that Caracas views as an unacceptable breach of sovereignty.

Internal and International Ramifications.

The invocation of the State of External Commotion would solidify Maduro’s grip on power and is a constitutional mechanism designed for scenarios that seriously endanger the nation’s security. It would effectively allow the government to enforce military law across the country. 

The last-minute confirmation that the decree is merely “ready” but not yet signed may be a calculated effort to maintain a maximum state of domestic and international tension, putting the world on notice for a potential US military move.

The state of readiness is not merely political; the Venezuelan military and civilian militia have been mobilized for preparedness drills throughout the country, preparing for what they describe as “any armed conflict.” 

This move is meant to rally the country’s populace behind the government in the event of an external attack.

The declaration of a state of emergency over US aggression marks the most dangerous flashpoint in US-Venezuelan relations in decades, with the risk of miscalculation looming large over the Caribbean.